SOUTH PARIS — John Clarence Betz has been recognized as the Veteran of the Month at the Maine Veterans’ Home. Betz was born in Farmington, Conn., on Jan. 10, 1923. He started working at a local Howard Johnson’s restaurant as a muffin pan washer when he was 15.

Betz was drafted into the Army on March 11, 1943, and served in the medical corps. His most vivid memory of the war was during the Battle of the Bulge when he woke up in his foxhole waist deep in water. He was discharged on Feb. 2, 1946.

Upon his discharge, Betz moved to Lewiston, and once again went to work for Howard Johnson’s. His career with them spanned 35 years and he became the supervisor of all the Howard Johnson’s turnpike restaurants in Maine.

After retiring, Betz bought his own restaurant, the Little Hobo, where he served “the best fried clams in the state” along with eclairs and other baked goods. He eventually sold the restaurant and retired for a second time. He was a member of the VFW and the South End Social Club.

Betz came to the Maine Veterans’ Home in September of 2009. Some of his favorite activities are watching boxing matches, football and basketball games, listening to country music and cooking. He enjoys one on one visits with the staff, military functions and anything that gets him outside. He currently resides on the C-Unit.